General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Breaking - the US has called for an immediate cease fire in Gaza [View all]Richard D
(8,841 posts). . . I did not mention nor did I approve of the disastrous bombing of Iraq and Afghanistan. It's one of the reasons I joined DU after 9/11.
Japan? I don't really know. The world would be a very different place had Japan walked away from WWII victorious. Germany, I do know. If the Nazis had won WWII, and they could have done so, this world would be hell. Oddly, both Japan and Germany quickly evolved into peaceful world powers after their defeat. I don't think anyone holds animosity to those two nations now. Nor do they hold animosity towards the nations who helped defeat them.
This is a very great difference in the the Gazans, who still hold hatred towards Israel. Notice I did not say Palestinians as 250,000 live in Israel as citizens, something that was available to all Palestinians who lived there when Israel was established. Sadly, for whatever reason, many chose instead to hold hatred and separation for 75 years.
So, yes. My preference is no deaths, but I cannot ignore nor deny nor ever forget what Hamas did on October 7, as many non-Jews seem to have done.
I love the idea of a cease-fire, but if there is a cease-fire today, by tomorrow, Hamas will be regrouping, rearming, digging new terror tunnels, and making plans for the next horrors they will unleash on Israel. These are their words, written in their charter.
The best option is for Hamas to release all the hostages and surrender. They are losing this war, and they know it. So let's have a cease-fire, which will be celebrated as a victory by Hamas. And so the pain, suffering, and deaths will continue and be repeated over and over.
Yes, it is tragic that there are any deaths from war. But that is war. Hopefully, they and the rest of the world will learn that the best and surest way to avoid the deaths of innocents in a war is not to start one. But they refuse to learn that, and so, a cease-fire may be imposed on Israel, but weeks, months, or years in the future, Hamas will attack Israel again. Israel will respond, and the world, with an attention span of a gnat, will again condemn Israel and rinse and repeat. Perhaps I am wrong, but I would put money on it. A lot of money.
Gaza could be a modern paradise. But not with Hamas or any other iteration of ISIS/Muslim Brotherhood. When the people really want peace, I assure you that Israelis will do whatever they are capable of doing to help lift Gaza up into a truly beautiful and peaceful place. I would also bet money on that.